Yoshiwara

by Eve Kaan

  'I understand.'

  'Thank you for everything.' Standing up from the futon, she invited me on a cup of tea. I felt relief, she gave us a chance to get to know each other - to start believing in my honest intentions.

  Utano came upon a call in Uta's room with me waiting behind her. 'Let's go down for some tea. Kaoru and Hana can't wait to show their skills of serving.' Mother went with her in the reception room.

  'Come to me Rin, why are you so stiff in that hallway. What did you two talk about? I died here of nervousness.' She looked at me with a cute smile. 'You're walking so slow as if we have all the time of this world. Come on, come on... take a step!' I laughed and slowed down even more, on purpose, to tease her a bit. She quickly closed the door behind me, and I couldn't hide my thrill.

  'Utano gave me a chance, she accepted us Yuna. That's what you wanted, your happiness is all that matters to me. I would want for her to accept us as Nori and Gina did.'

  'Oh, I knew it, that's my Utano. She never really disappointed me. How could I even think she wouldn't accept you? You are my soul, my heart and love. Let's go down so you can get to know everyone, they are the only family I have.'

  'You know, I was thinking last night when you were telling me about her and Mother.'

  'I know what you were thinking.'

  'How do you know?'

  'I saw, actually, I concluded what was obvious.'

  'And what might that be?'

  'You were thinking about offering them field management in Gina and Nori's place?'

  'How did you know?!!'

  'I know everything. I think they would like that idea, ask them yourself. Let's go now, they're waiting for us.'

  Yuna was, like me, excited about me meeting them. Her family welcomed us with smiles in the reception room. They started the stories about Yuna, how she came to them, fifteen summers old. At first, a shy little girl who later on showed her cheerful nature. She was sitting beside me with rosy cheeks as they spoke, skilfully redirecting the topic to my European travels. They were interested in all what I had experienced, asking me so many questions that I hardly got to answer them all with more than a few sentences. At some point, Yuna retreated to the exterior porch with Utano while I was enthralled in my story about the carnival where Gina, Nori and I mistakingly wore masks intended for men. The table was involved in laughter, and on the outside porch, the love between two sisters was enveloped with moments when they were each others courage, strength, and hope that there exists a better reality than what they knew at that time. The sisters sat embraced, talking with smiles. Upon our leaving, Yuna invited them to the Great House tomorrow, when the moon would be in the position of the evening tea time.

  I helped her place all the things she needed for the first few days of her moving in the carriage. I told her to take only the essentials, the transport would be sent back for the rest tomorrow, but it seems like she thought the whole house was needed. We sat squeezed because of everything she packed for her first night - I didn't take this much to Europe, but I had to stay silent so she wouldn't scold me for complaining.

  The next morning, she woke at dawn. She was in a hurry because of preparations for buying her freedom. Gina and Nori had boarded the carriage last night, receiving a call in the dead of the countryside night. All Yoshiwara was shaking from the gossips of how Uta, a girl of exceptional art skills, attained a matron in Respected lady, or perhaps even something more, but that still needs to be thoroughly inspected - or so that was the words which could be heard in all corners of our settlement. I ordered Madam to send a notice of freedom buying to each house, and in that honor, we prepare a traditional party without the clients. Only in rare cases, freedom buying takes place without entertainment - if some girl insists on the intimacy of the act. Yuna wasn't one of those girls, she held the opinion that tradition should be nurtured.

  ✽✽✽

  Yuna

  'Are you ready my love?' Rin asked me in front of the mirror when we were left alone before leaving. I felt a pleasant nervousness because of Yoshiwara in which I will become her equal - life partner as a free person.

  In front of the Great House gathered the whole world from our dusty streets. Lanterns adorning the facade, ribbons fluttering in crowns of majestic trees, and flowers from the pots pointing to a great event. The murmur and music resounded in the foyer as Utano lead me by the hand to Rin's office. I wore a kimono, the one that Utano gave me when I needed to deceive Yoshiwara that I became a woman. Behind us, Mother, Kaoru, Hana, Gina, and Nori walked in, and Rin has occupied her place a few moments before our arrival.

  Utano took out the gold coins and handed them over to Rin, kissing me on the forehead with tears. 'I'm proud of you. Your name is Yuna, but you'll always be my sister whatever the name you go by with.'

  I signed the paper with pleasure. They all congratulated me, Rin waiting to be the last. 'Yuna, you are now a free woman. Now you belong -' I interrupted her by completing her sentence,' I belong to you. I love you Rin.'

  'I love you too, Yuna.' For the first time I kissed her in my freedom. We went out into the corridor, stopping at the top of the staircase. We stood there for a few moments that were needed for a murmur to silence.

  By lightening the black cigarette on a silver stick, Rin lifted her head. 'Yuna has become a free woman.' An exclamation of Yoshiwara's standing ovations with all the eyes on us rouse loudly. Rin turned to me, putting a palm on my cheek, pressing me to herself with her other hand around my waist. The cheers began to wilt, but she didn't care. She said loudly like when she spoke to them, 'I love you, Yuna. My heart beats only for you.'

  She then presented me with a silver box. Silence engrossed the large space now.

  The golden hairpin was in it. She piercingly looked at me, placing the hairpin in my hair, like when I first dreamed of her. Her love overwhelmed me. We approached each other, and then she placed her warm lips on mine - kissing me a while longer than the appropriate time would be. Yoshiwara welcomed our love in loud hortatory ovations.

  My eyes searched for Utano, finding her at the very edge of the stairs. She gave me a warm smile, showing me how happy she is for me. This is the day which Rin and I celebrated every summer as the anniversary of our love in which these two souls have become one.

  ✽✽✽

  Shortly after Rin presented my new title as the Official Counsel lady , some significant changes came to Yoshiwara. Each Respected lady before her should've had a person like me - or so she would say to everyone.

  We wanted to disband Yoshiwara, but - to our surprise, girls with special skills didn't accept that decision because of the luxuries way of life they can have here. Therefore they didn't have to return the debt with the tips, but with the income of provided services. Most of them would've been able to repay it in less than a year. The girls who no longer wanted to work with clients could get jobs in our other activities, but that stayed only a minority of them. Of course, they would make a much better income while working with clients, so staying in our business here was a very common occurrence. It's called Yoshiwara's golden age. And the other part, the male part, Rin's holding it in her grasp. He had to adjust to our business policy because of the rebellion that emerged upon different conditions of life. There were rumors they had burned half of his houses before he agreed on new terms. He almost crawled on his knees begging Rin for a loan to save the little of business he had left, so Rin is actually an unofficial owner of the entire Yoshiwara. He is no longer the Respected gentlemen but just a manager - we thought that new title was more suitable for him.

  Yet, I'm the happiest for my sister. The Mother was relieved of debt, despite her claiming that it was no longer relevant to her anyway. Utano and Mother became only Hatsu and Shizuko again, moving to the field where they live their dreams - those are the exact words they would begin with every week when we would meet up for family lunch. They are living in a small palace, managing the field that no longer has any problems with floods. Crop growing doubl
ed, followed by the income. Before leaving, Mother left her house to Kaoru, who celebrated her Motherhood for full seven days while Hana went to teach the arts of dance at a house numbered 24.

  In the Great House, all the events began to be organized by Gina and Nori, with them moving to the palace of Yoshiwaras streets so they wouldn't have to travel every day. This step was decided during Rin's and my European trip when the business was left in their hands during our absence.

  It wasn't for a single morning so far that I didn't wake up in Rin's arms. Our love continues to grow day by day, even though twelve annual cycles have already passed since we kissed for the first time.

  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING

  Thank you for reading my debut novel, it means a lot to me. Yoshiwara was my first book to publish, not because it is the only one, first yes, but still it was picked to be out before others, yet for it is my personal favourite - the world in which the story was created. Melancholy as it is, but still immersed in the warm atmosphere of romantic plot and love at first sight.

  Please let me know what you think, and a review will be so much appreciated, even a short one truly means a great deal. If you would like to read more of Yoshiwara, there's a free book, you can't find in the store, ready for you. A new plot, another perspective in the world of those special ladies, awaits you in a stand alone novella Yoshiwara's guests. It will be sent to you after you subscribe to my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/20554c6bbbaf/freebook , as well as my new releases, giveaways and promotions.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Eve Kaan is a Europian author of lesbian romance novels. She is an MA artist, currently a Ph.D. candidate at interdisciplinary studies of literature, arts, and culture. Works and lives in a cozy little town with her long term girlfriend in pure love and pleasure over a decade now. One of Eve's greatest enjoyments is writing for her lady on demand. Deep lesbian emotions are her passion, so in her work, you can find sensual plots of women in love. Yoshiwara is her debut novel, and a few more are in the postproduction phase. She hopes you will take pleasure in reading, as much as she does when drifting into a magical world of imagination while bringing those stories to life.

  Taking your time to check my work is much appreciated. I really hope you enjoy it, and please do let me know what you think. Your thoughts, likes and dislikes are important to me. Here is my newsletter https://mailchi.mp/20554c6bbbaf/freebook for you to subscribe on my mailing list and you will get a free book right away. New releases, giveaways and promotions will follow later on.